Fence-post.



' No. 717,'736. PATNTED JAN. 6, 1903.

J. T. GROW.

FENCE POST. APPLIGATIONTILBD APR. 4, 1901-.

No MODEL. 1&3 ,z5

IMLI ,zo ,10.12

ff mwhlillm f i Eii l im unlink! UNITEDy STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOSEPH T. CROV, OF KIEFERVILLE, OHIO.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,736, dated January 6, 1903. Application filed April 4, 1901. Serial No. 54,320. (No model.)

One of the principal objects of the inven tion is to provide an article of this kind that is not as subject to the disintegrating action of the elements as wood or metal and at the same time provide means whereby the wires or oth-er stringers can be readily and rigidly secured thereto.

A further object is to provide in connection therewith a novel brace which will secure the post against lateral movement and relieve the same of such strains.

In carrying out the above objects the construction set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings is preferably employed, althoughu this construction may be modified, if so desired, provided such modification is within the scope of the appended claims.

ln the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a fence in which the improved post is employed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the corner-post and brace therefor. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective of a portion of one of the posts. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same.

Similarnumerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The post is preferably constructed of earthenware, such as clay molded to proper form and burned in a kiln. It comprises a tubular standard or body 10, preferably cylindrical in form and having on one faceV a longitudinally-disposed rib ll, the opposite side'edges of which are located within the planes of the sides of the body and form fianges 12, that are spaced from the face of said body l0, thus forming the oppositely-disposed grooves 13. The outer face of the rib ll is iiat on the lineposts, while those at the corner are preferably curved. The longitudinal wires 14 of the fence are arranged transversely across the outer face of the rib ll, and holding devices l5 fasten the same securely thereto. These holding de vices are preferably in the form of short wire binders, each of which extends diagonally across the face of the rib ll over the wire and has its ends bent around the edges of the iianges l2, thus forming hooks which engage in the grooves 13, respectively, above and below the wire.

For the purpose of securely bracing the posts when so desired horizontal sleepers 16 are arranged at an angle to each other, and the post is placed thereon at their points of juncture. Brace-rods i7 fasten these sleepers together at their meeting ends and pass up through the bore of the post, being located against the side thatis provided with the rib, and thereby strengthen the post against the strain of the wires. These rods then extend at an inclination from the upper ends of the post to the outer or free ends of the sleepers, to which they are secured. By this novel construction an exceedingly-rigid bracing is provided, which will hold the post against lateral movement and relieve it of all lateral strain.

From the construction above described several important advantages are derived. In the first place a practicable post is provided, which canbe constructed of earthenware, and is thus not as subject to decay and disinte gration as a wooden or metallic post. The rib also forms an exceedingly simple means whereby the wires may be fastened without the necessity of openings, which tend to weaken the structure, this'rib, in fact, greatly strengthening the post at the place of fastening the wires. This bracing,furthermore,se curely holds the posts 'against lateral movement and is an exceedingly simple and inexpensive structure, the brace-rods serving as fasteners to secure the sleepers to the post.

From the foregoing it is thought thatl the constructiomoperation,and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art'without further descrption, and it willv beunderstood that various changes in the' size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what ICO I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fence, the combination with an upright post comprising a body having a longitudinally-disposed rib on one face, said rib being attached to the body on a line intermediate its side edges, the inner faces of the rib being spaced from the body and forming oppositely-disposed grooves,of wires arranged across the outer face of the rib, and fastening devices for the wires located diagonally across the same and having terminal hooks that engage about the side edges of the rib and in the grooves formed thereby, the terminals of said hooks engaging both the inner face 'of the rib andthe outer face of the body, whereby the hooks are held against bending when outward pressure is applied to the wires.

2. The combination with a hollow standard or body havinga longitudinally-disposed rib on its outer face, said rib having its opposite side edges spaced from the body forming grooves, of fastening devices for the wires engaging in the grooves, and brace-rods eX- tending through the body and bearing against the side thereof that is provided with a rib.

3. In a fence-post, the combination of horizontal sleepers arranged at an angle to each other, of an upright tubular body provided upon one face with a longitudinally-disposed rib having its side edges spaced from the walls of the body, forming grooves, said body being located upon the sleepers at their juncture, and brace-rods secured to the sleepers at their meeting-points and extending longitudinally through the body, the free ends of said rods being arranged at an inclination to the body and extending from the top edge thereof, said ends being secured to the outer ends of the sleepers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH T. CROW.

Witnesses:

A. V. WATTS, LEWIS P. CRAWBIs. 

